Grade-crossing protector



Feb 17. 1925. 1327,10?

c. w. ALLEN GRADE CROSSING PROTECTOR File March 25. 1924 Patented Feb.17, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. ALLEN, 01 mm, SOUTH DAKOTA.

emn-cn'ossme rnorncron.

Application filed m rches, 1924. Serial in. 701,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Arum, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residin at Martin, in the county of Bennett and tate of SouthDakota, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements 1nGrade-Crossing Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dev1oes for protecting grade crossings, and moreespecially to devices for bringin motor vehicles and the like to a lowrate 0 speed to pass safely over dangerous crossings.

An important object of my invention is the provision of .a device of theabove mentioned character which will allow vehicles going ata low rateof speed to pass but which will positively prevent vehicles driven at anexcessive rate of speed from passing.

- Another object of my invention 1sto provide a device of this characterwhich Will be entirely automatic in its operation and which willautomatically reset itself.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter WhlCh 'will be simple in construction, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like-numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, showing my inventioninstalled at a grade crossing;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional vlew taken on line 22 of Figure 1Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the obstruction members, and,

Fi ure 4 is a fragmentary detail view showlngthe method of assemblingthe obstruction member and guide rods.

In the .drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates arailroad track or the like, which is intersected b the highway 6.Arranged at a substantial distance from each side of the track aredivision posts 7 which divide the road and separate vehicles going inopposite directions. My protection devices are adapted to be arranged ateach side of these posts and in the center of the paths of vehiclesapproaching or leaving the crossing. Each of these protection devicesconsists of a casing 8 which is adapted to be embedded in the roadbed soas to lie flush with the level of the highway. This casin is lon andrelatively narrow, and has inc ined en walls 9 which slope downwardlyand. outwardly and the bottom or lower end of this casing is preferablyleft open.

In installing the casing, a pit 10 is dug in the roadbed and the casingplaced in the pit with its upper surface flush with it .in the ground.Arranged midway of the slot is a transverse pin 13 which is ri idlymounted in the sides of the opening 0 slot 11. Pivotally mounted uponthis pin is the automatic obstruction or stop member 1'4 which ispivoted above its center of gravity so as to be normally in an uprightposition.

In the .preferred embodiment of my invention, this obstruction member isformed from a single piece of any suitable material, and is providedwith cut-away portions 15 in its upper end to form the prongs 16. Theseprongs slope. downwardly and the top portion of the stop member 14 hasthe appearance of an arrow head. By cutting out portions of the upperportion of the member 14, they lower portion is rendered I much heavierin proportion and. as a consequence, the-member 14 will more readilyassume its upright position. The lower portion of the member 14 is alsocut away at 17 to form downwardly extending prongs 18.

Extendin across the cutaway portions 15 are gui e rods 19 which form aconvided to receive bolts to tinuation of the sides of the member 14.These rods 19 are provided at their upper ends with cross pieces 20which are adapted to fit in the cut out portions 21 of the prongs 16 andwhich will lie flush with the top surface of the prongs. The ends of theprongs 16 are also provided with sockets 22 for the reception of thestems of the rods 19 which will lie flush with the sides of the member14 and with the ends of the prongs 16. The upper surface of the cut outportions 21 and the lower surface of the cross pieces 20 are providedwith corresponding serrations 23 which form a firm joint. Openin s 24are pro- Iasten the rods 19 to the prongs. The rods are fastened attheir lower ends to the side of the members 14 by means of the bolts 26.These rods 19 are of slight construction and are formed of brittlematerial. A pit 27 may be provided beneath the opening 11, for thereception of dbris, so that it will not interfere with the free movementof the member 14 within the pit or cavity 10, and this pit should beprovided with a drain 28. Auxiliary guide posts 29 may be provided inalignment with the post 7 so as to force motor vehicles to pass over theprotecting device.

In operation, a vehicle, to reach the crossing must passover thisautomatic stopping device, and in so doing its axle will strike the iderods 19 and tilt the member 14 whic will automatically right itself whenthe vehicle has passed. Should the vehicle be moving at an excessiverate of speed, the im act will break the brittle guide rod 19 an theprong 16 will engage the axle and either stop or wreck the car. But evenshould the ide rod withstand the impact, the force 0 the blow willrevolve the'member 14 about its pivot and the prongs 18 will engage theunder works of the car or the rear axle and the car will be brought to astop before reaching thecrossing. The speed at which a car is allowed topass is determined by the size and strength of the guide rods 19.

A set of these protection devices is arranged on each side of the trackso that a car will not get up speed, after passing the first one, butwill continue over the crossing slowly in order that it may not bestopped or injured at the other stopping de vice. p

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescrlbed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatVarious changes in'thc shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of-the subjoine'd claims.

It is evident that the construction of my device is such as to permitanimal drawn vvehicles and. loose stock to pass withouthindrance orinjury thereto.

Having described my invention what-I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, an obstruction member beingnormally arranged in the path of vehicles, m'eans wheretion in the pathof vehicles, and means.

whereby said obstruction member will not be removed from the path-of afast moving vehicle but will engage and stop the same.

3. In a device of the character described, an obstruction elementivotally mounted in the path of vehicles, t e greater portion of theobstruction element bein arranged below the pivot point whereby t eobstruction element is normally arranged in its vertical position meanswhereby the obstruction element is rotated about its pivot, when struckby a slowly moving vehicle, so as to be removed from the path of thevehicle, and

means whereby the obstruction device will' engage, and obstruct thepassa e of a fast moving car, due to the inertia o the heavier portionof the obstruction elementwhich is arranged below the pivot point.

4. In a device of the character described, an obstruction member mountedin the path of vehicles, a prong formed on the up er portion of saidobstruction member, an a frangible guide rod attached to said pro andadapted to be broken by the impacto a fast moving vehicle to allow theprong to engage said vehicle and obstruct its passage,

5. In a deviceof the character described,

an obstruction member pivotally mounted in the path of vehicles, saidobstruction member being normally arranged in its u right position, theupper portion of said obstruction device being cut away to form prongs,and frangible guide rods extending across said cutaway portion anddetachably connected with said prongs, said ide rods being adapted to bebroken by t e impact of a fast moving vehicle to allow the prongs toengage the vehicle, the lower portion also being cut away to formprongs, whereby in the event that the guide rods should withstand theimpact, the obstruction member I would be rotated about its pivot andthe mounted in said slot, said obstructing ele- 1 second named prongswould engage the ment being adapted to obstruct the passage vehicle. offast moving vehicles but adapted to be 6. In a device of the characterdescribed, depressed Within said casing by slowly mova casing adapted tobe embedded in the roading vehicles. way, said casing having downwardlyand In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 5 outwardly inclined endWalls, said casing ture. 1 also being provided with a longitudinallyarranged slot and an obstruction element CHARLES W. ALLEN.

